Avast stopped working loading on startup

[mahhhh]

I have a pc here which avast stopped working on.
It wont load and has the red icon in the tray and when you double click tray icon it says error read the faq bs.
Nothing has been changed on the pc so the only thing I can think it is is a virus that is disabling avast.
Sure I can re install right?But why should I need to do this has been working fine for years.
Cant you make it so the virus cant disable it?I mean its an AV program ffs.

[Lisandro]

Which is your Windows? 98, Me, XP, Vista?
Do you use any other antivirus in your computer?

Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?

[mahhhh]

Which is your Windows? 98, Me, XP, Vista?
Do you use any other antivirus in your computer?

Can you try to repair your installation?
Go to Control Panel > Add/Remove programs > avast! antivirus > Remove. Then choose Repair function in the popup window (Repair).
If this does not help, can you uninstall / boot / install / boot again?

XP SP2 no other antivirus.
I tried to repair/change from add remove programs it still gets the same problem.
The program hangs on boot.
I believe it is a virus on the computer because other things are messing up to now cant even get into safe mode because msconfig crashes.So I will get into safe mode from windows dvd.
I am working on repairing this now in the safe mode but I think for Avast to get disabled so easy is not good this shows any AV can get disabled.
I will have to uninstall reinstall it all and reconfigure it (take along time).

[Lisandro]

Read the instructions, download and burn (maybe from another computer), finally use one of this rescue CD's:
1. Dr. Web
2. Avira
3. BitDefender
4. Kaspersky
5. F-Secure

[mahhhh]

Here is some event log bs.
aswServ::AavmStart ERROR...
AAVM - initialization error: AavmStart: avworkInitialize failed, 0000A438.
Function setifaceUpdatePackages() has failed. Return code is 0x20000004, dwRes is 20000004. 
AAVM: VPS load failed, trying to get a fresh copy... 
aswServ::AavmStart ERROR... 

I tried to do some updates in safe mode they didn't work said package was broken.


Faulting application msconfig.exe, version 5.1.2600.2764, faulting module mfc42u.dll, version 6.2.8071.0, fault address 0x0004db2c.
Here is now msconfig getting blasted.

[mahhhh]

Update completely uninstalled Avast using YourUninstaller and cleaned out all registry and temp files and resinstalled and updated.
On reboot Avast does the same thing.
aswServ::AavmStart ERROR...
AAVM - initialization error: AavmStart: avworkInitialize failed, 0000A438.
Function setifaceUpdatePackages() has failed. Return code is 0x20000004, dwRes is 20000004.  
AAVM: VPS load failed, trying to get a fresh copy...  
aswServ::AavmStart ERROR...  

Not only now does the original install not work, but the computer cannot run Avast.
I have done ChkDsk no problem, I am going to do file repair.
After this if Avast does not run then there is nothing I can do.
I can not even get into recovery by pressing F11 at boot.
I will have to use the Windows DVD.
The Services running on the other PC are EXACT as the ones on this PC im typing on that works fine.
I took screenshot and made sure the services were exact.

[bobo1]

Hi,
If your internet works ? try and download MALWARE BYTES OR SPYBOT SEARC AND DESTROY. and remove what it finds could be malware that is interfering with avast. You need to update your xp to SP3 at least as yours is old.

[mahhhh]

Hi,
If your internet works ? try and download MALWARE BYTES OR SPYBOT SEARC AND DESTROY. and remove what it finds could be malware that is interfering with avast. You need to update your xp to SP3 at least as yours is old.

I have done that, managed to update it first time I got into safe mode, with networking.
Have run the scan in safe mode and normal and it finds nothing.
No longer can get into safe mode, and the F11 recovery option does nothing.
There is nothing going out or in from that pc because I have a router and can see everything in logs so if its a virus its just destructive not using the net.It would have to infect router Dlink software to alter that.I have it mac addy blocked anyway.
I will fix it, have fixed worse, but would like some advice.
Thanks.

[mahhhh]

Ok when I go into ctrl panel, system, advanced, startup and recovery.
There is no default OS listed and when I click edit boot.ini there is blank.
Yet Windows XP boots fine.
Any ideas?

[mahhhh]

Well I have got Avast to work.
I did sfc /scannow and it seems to have fixed whatever it was.
I have scanned this PC with every damn thing there is and it shows no viruses.
So this is leading me to believe this is an exploit not a virus.
It deleted the info out of the boot.ini file is why I couldn't get into safe mode I just copied the text from this machine's boot.ini and it works ok.
So for future reference if people come here saying they cant get into safe mode and avast isn't working this is not a problem with Avast it is a problem with Windows.Everything stops working.

[YoKenny]

Will you now install Windows Service Pack 3 that has been available for over a year and contains several Critical Security updates plus performance improvements.

You need to start Internet Explorer then go to Tools then Windows Update and download all of the available updates.

Also you should enable Automatic Updates or at least be notified that Updates are available.

Go to Control Panel then Automatic Updates then select Automatic (recommended) or at least Notify me but don't automatically download or install them.

Download and install:
User Profile Hive Cleanup Service:
Brief Description
A service to help with slow log off and unreconciled profile problems.
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=1B286E6D-8912-4E18-B570-42470E2F3582&displaylang=en

Download Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware (MBAM) then install it then update it and run a Quick scan:
http://www.malwarebytes.org/mbam.php

Go to Secunia Online Software Inspector then run it to see what other applications are vulnerable:
http://secunia.com/vulnerability_scanning/online